Confusing Food Terms

• Broth vs. Stock: Broth is a flavorful liquid made by simmering meat, while stock is made by simmering bones.
• Yams vs. Sweet Potatoes: Yams are starchy tubers from Africa/Asia, while sweet potatoes are sweeter and come from the Americas.
• Gelato vs. Ice Cream: Gelato has less air and more milk, making it denser than ice cream.
• Jam vs. Jelly: Jam is made from whole fruit, while jelly is made from fruit juice.
• Butter vs. Margarine: Butter is made from dairy cream, while margarine is a non-dairy spread made from vegetable oils.
• Salsa vs. Picante Sauce: Salsa is a chunky mix of vegetables and spices, while picante sauce is a smoother, spicier version of salsa.
• Baking Soda vs. Baking Powder: Baking soda is pure sodium bicarbonate, while baking powder contains sodium bicarbonate and an acidifying agent.
• Cilantro vs. Coriander: Cilantro refers to the leaves of the plant, while coriander refers to the seeds.
• Green Onions vs. Scallions: They are the same; both terms refer to young onions with long green stalks.
• Cottage Cheese vs. Ricotta: Cottage cheese has curds and is more liquid, while ricotta is smoother and creamier.
• Evaporated Milk vs. Condensed Milk: Evaporated milk is unsweetened, while condensed milk is sweetened.
• Sorbet vs. Sherbet: Sorbet is dairy-free, while sherbet contains a small amount of dairy.
• Raisins vs. Currants: Raisins are dried grapes, while currants are dried small berries from the currant bush.
• Heavy Cream vs. Half-and-Half: Heavy cream has a higher fat content (36-40%), while half-and-half is a mix of milk and cream with about 10-18% fat.
• Quinoa vs. Couscous: Quinoa is a seed, while couscous is a type of pasta made from semolina.
• Green Beans vs. Haricots Verts: Green beans are thicker and less tender, while haricots verts are thinner and more tender.
• Pancetta vs. Prosciutto: Pancetta is Italian bacon made from pork belly, while prosciutto is dry-cured ham.
• Cacao vs. Cocoa: Cacao refers to raw, unprocessed beans, while cocoa is the processed powder.
• Polenta vs. Grits: Polenta is made from yellow cornmeal, while grits are made from white corn.
• Sushi vs. Sashimi: Sushi includes vinegared rice, while sashimi is just slices of raw fish.
• Chili Powder vs. Chili Flakes: Chili powder is a blend of spices, while chili flakes are just crushed dried chilies.
• Spring Roll vs. Egg Roll: Spring rolls have a thin, rice paper wrapper, while egg rolls have a thicker, flour-based wrapper.
• Macaron vs. Macaroon: Macarons are delicate French almond meringue cookies, while macaroons are dense coconut cookies.
• Zucchini vs. Cucumber: Zucchini is a type of squash, while cucumber is a gourd often eaten raw.
• Miso vs. Tahini: Miso is a fermented soybean paste, while tahini is a paste made from sesame seeds.
• Chives vs. Green Onions: Chives are a type of herb with a mild onion flavor, while green onions are young onions with a stronger taste.
• Ceviche vs. Poke: Ceviche is a Latin American dish with raw fish cured in citrus, while poke is a Hawaiian dish with raw fish marinated in soy sauce.
• Ghee vs. Clarified Butter: Ghee is clarified butter cooked longer to remove all water and milk solids, giving it a nutty flavor.
• Kimchi vs. Sauerkraut: Kimchi is a spicy Korean fermented cabbage, while sauerkraut is a tangy German fermented cabbage.
• Buckwheat vs. Bulgur: Buckwheat is a gluten-free seed, while bulgur is a form of whole wheat that’s been cracked and partially cooked
• Chickpeas vs. Garbanzo Beans: They are the same; chickpeas and garbanzo beans are different names for the same legume.
• Coconut Milk vs. Coconut Cream: Coconut milk is a thinner liquid made from grated coconut and water, while coconut cream is thicker and richer.
• Farro vs. Spelt: Farro is an ancient wheat grain with a chewy texture, while spelt is another type of ancient wheat that is slightly nuttier.
• Chia Seeds vs. Flax Seeds: Chia seeds are tiny, black or white seeds that gel when soaked, while flax seeds are larger and need to be ground to release their nutrients.
• Capers vs. Caperberries: Capers are small, pickled flower buds, while caperberries are the larger fruit of the caper bush.
• Balsamic Vinegar vs. Red Wine Vinegar: Balsamic vinegar is sweet and syrupy, made from grape must, while red wine vinegar is tangy and made from fermented red wine.
• Panko vs. Breadcrumbs: Panko is a Japanese-style breadcrumb that is lighter and flakier, while regular breadcrumbs are finer and denser.
• Tamari vs. Soy Sauce: Tamari is a Japanese soy sauce that’s usually gluten-free and thicker, while regular soy sauce often contains wheat and is saltier.
• Mirin vs. Sake: Mirin is a sweet Japanese rice wine used for cooking, while sake is a Japanese rice wine used for drinking.
• Couscous vs. Fregola: Couscous is a tiny pasta made from semolina, while fregola is a Sardinian pasta that is larger and toasted.
• Crème Fraîche vs. Sour Cream: Crème fraîche is thicker, less tangy, and has a higher fat content than sour cream.
• Pecorino vs. Parmesan: Pecorino is a hard Italian cheese made from sheep’s milk, while Parmesan is made from cow’s milk.
• Marzipan vs. Almond Paste: Marzipan is sweeter and used for confectionery, while almond paste is less sweet and used for baking.
• Lox vs. Smoked Salmon: Lox is cured in a salt-sugar brine but not smoked, while smoked salmon is cured and then smoked.
• Radicchio vs. Red Cabbage: Radicchio is a bitter, red-leafed chicory, while red cabbage is a milder, cruciferous vegetable.
• Plantains vs. Bananas: Plantains are starchy and usually cooked, while bananas are sweet and eaten raw.
• Pita vs. Naan: Pita is a Middle Eastern flatbread with a pocket, while naan is an Indian flatbread that is thicker and often contains yogurt.
• Provolone vs. Mozzarella: Provolone is a semi-hard cheese with a sharper flavor, while mozzarella is a soft, mild cheese.
• Rutabaga vs. Turnip: Rutabaga is larger, sweeter, and has yellow flesh, while turnips are smaller, more bitter, and have white flesh.
• Semolina vs. Polenta: Semolina is a coarse flour made from durum wheat, used in pasta and bread, while polenta is made from cornmeal.
• Soba vs. Udon: Soba are thin Japanese noodles made from buckwheat, while udon are thick, chewy noodles made from wheat flour.
• Beetroot vs. Sugar Beet: Beetroot is the red root vegetable eaten as a food, while sugar beet is grown for sugar extraction.
• Couscous vs. Quinoa: Couscous is a type of pasta made from semolina, while quinoa is a seed that is often used as a grain.
• Kefir vs. Yogurt: Kefir is a fermented milk drink with a thinner consistency and more probiotics, while yogurt is thicker and less tangy.
• Marmalade vs. Jam: Marmalade is a type of preserve made from citrus fruit, including the peel, while jam is made from various fruits without the peel.
• Fennel vs. Anise: Fennel is a vegetable with a mild licorice flavor, while anise is a spice with a stronger licorice taste.
• Tapioca vs. Sago: Tapioca is made from cassava root, while sago is made from the pith of tropical palm stems.
• Truffle vs. Truffle Oil: Truffles are rare, aromatic fungi, while truffle oil is a flavored oil that often contains no actual truffles.
• Empanada vs. Pierogi: Empanadas are Spanish pastries filled with meat or sweets, while pierogi are Polish dumplings filled with potatoes, cheese, or meat.
• Brie vs. Camembert: Both are soft, creamy cheeses from France, but Brie is milder and larger, while Camembert is stronger and smaller.

Commonly Confused Food Terms with Pictures